Buttermilk Chess Pie
A simple southern pie that no one can resist! Buttermilk Chess Pie Recipe is a spring classic, perfect for serving with fresh fruit and light roast coffee.
Why We Love Buttermilk Chess Pie
I cannot… absolutely cannot, resist a good piece of pie.
Whether it’s a cream pie, a fruit pie, or a chocolate pie, the combination of crisp buttery crust and sweet decadent filling is more than I can bear.
Back in the 90’s, when I used to pay attention to calories, I would eat the fruit filling out of the pie, then pick at the buttery crust trying to determine how much damage I’d done. Thank goodness I’m over that!
At this stage in life, I’m a firm believer in eating clean more often than not. Yet when it’s time to splurge… either go big, or go home.
Chess Pie is a supreme example of rustic southern decadence. It’s composed of a rich creamy custard filling and a sturdy high-edged pie crust.
I like my buttermilk chess pie filling with a touch of nutmeg and citrus zest to balance the sweet density.
And I like my chess pie crust to be a little sturdier and flakier than most pie crusts, so it doesn’t crack when you lift it out of the pie pan, but offers serious texture.
This sort of crust is accomplished by folding cold dough, rolling it down, and folding it again to create flaky layers.
Also notice the paper thin crust that forms on the top of the buttermilk chess pie filling. It’s slightly cracked and offers that little extra something that takes this pie over the edge.
What To Serve With Chess Pie
Chess Pie is a fabulous spring dessert because it goes well with fresh sliced fruit, berries, tea, and light roast coffees.
Starbucks newest blonde light roast coffees are a perfect pairing to chess pie. Their bright delicate flavors scream spring and elevate the appeal of simple desserts.
I’ve been serving Starbucks® Aria Blend K-Cup® Packs with a crispy citrus essence and Starbucks® Bright Sky Blend K-Cup® Packs with its mild nutty flavor, ever since the weather started to improve.
I like offering my guests single serve coffee options from my Keurig® Special Edition Brewing System, because it allows them to choose whichever Starbucks Coffee they fancy.
Together, the pie and coffee remind me of two old friends that always prefer each other. The light nutty Starbucks Blonde Bright Sky Blend complements the touch of nutmeg in my chess pie recipe, bringing the flavors of both the pie and coffee to the forefront. Neither one outshines the other.
What a luxurious way to prefer your friends this spring, by offering them Classic Chess Pie and blonde roast coffee!
How To Make The Perfect Pie Crust
The key to making the perfect pie crust is keeping your butter ice cold. This allows the dough to hold little clumps of butter that will melt in the oven creating flakes within your crust. To keep the butter cold, you first want to start by using butter straight out of the fridge instead of softening it first. Additionally, you want to ensure that any liquids added to the crust, in this case water, are ice cold when added. This will keep the butter from melting when it is added. Lastly, you want to work quickly and not handle your dough more than necessary so that the warmth of your hands doesn’t melt any of the butter.
In addition to keeping the dough cold, you also want to be sure to measure the flour carefully, use plenty of flour when rolling out your dough, and bake on the bottom rack of you oven so that the crust is closest to the source of heat.
Still struggling with pie crusts? Click here for a few extra pointers.
Chess Pie Filling Ingredients
- Sugar
- Eggs – create that iconic custardy texture
- Buttermilk – gives the filling a little tang
- Butter
- Cornmeal – adds depth and thickens the filling
- Lemon & Orange zest – keeps the flavor light and balanced
- Vanilla
- Nutmeg – makes it taste comfy & cozy
Get The Full (Printable) Buttermilk Chess Pie Recipe Below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chess Pie is a delicious southern pie with a cornmeal-based custard filling that’s baked in the middle. It’s a rich and buttery dessert that is wonderful any time of the year (although we especially like to make this recipe around Christmas).
There are a few theories thrown around about how this pie got its name. The most popular story is that a thick southern accent led someone to mishear “just pie” as “chess pie” and the name stuck. There are also ideas that southerners commonly enjoyed this dessert while playing chess, chess is a deviation from the word “chest” pie, or even that it is named after Chester, England. Who knows… but its a delicious treat either way.
Chess pie is filled with a custard that is thickened with cornmeal and often uses buttermilk in place of fresh milk. This gives the custard a rich quality and a cozier flavor. The custard in a custard pie typically only relies on the eggs to thick the custard, giving the custard a smoother, creamier texture.
Technically yes. Gluten free pie crust can be a little bit tricky but it’s not impossible. We recommend using this gluten free pie crust recipe and then proceeding with the rest of the recipe as is.
More Fabulous Pies
Buttermilk Chess Pie
Ingredients
For the Pie Crust:
- 1 cup all purpose Gold Medal Flour
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter COLD
- 3-4 tablespoons ice water
For the Chess Pie Filling:
- 1 cup sugar + 2 tablespoons
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 3 tablespoons cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- For the Pie Crust, place the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse a couple times then cut the cold butter into cubes and add to the mixture. Pulse until the butter is cut into the size of peas, then add 3 tablespoons of ice cold water and pulse until the mixture looks like tiny pebbles. If needed add 1 more tablespoon of water. Dump the crumbly dough out onto a well floured work surface and press into a disk. Roll flat, then fold the dough into thirds, toward the center. Roll flat again and fold toward the center again. Fold in thirds, then in half until the dough looks like a little cube. then press into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a pie pan in the freezer. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the chess pie filling. Whisk well and set aside.
- Once the pie crust dough has had time to chill, roll it out into a 12-inch circle and gently move to the chilled pie pan. Roll the rough edges of the dough under and crimp into a fat border. Whisk the pie filling again and pour into the crust.
- Bake on the lowest oven rack for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 325 degrees F and bake another 40 minutes, until golden on top, puffy, but still a little jiggly. Cool on the counter for at least 1 hour before chilling or cutting. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Starbucks Coffee Company. All opinions are my own.
I cannot have lemon, can I use orange juice and orange zest and 1/2 lemon zest
I’ve never tried chess pie but with citrus and nutmeg, this is a must for easter!
Chess pie is amazing! Love the burst of color on the top of yours
Gorgeous pie, Sommer. I had never heard of chess pie until a couple years ago when I shared a piece with Sandy in Louisville, KY. So good!
What a great spring recipe with yummy citrus flavor!
I’m so sad to say that I have never had a Chess Pie – *The Horror!* I know, it has been on my Make It and Bake It list for AGES. You might have finally done me in with it Sommer! Gorgeous!!
Never had a chess pie!! Feel so left out, Sommer. Need to remedy this, ASAP :D
Looks delicious Sommer!
I have NEVER had a chess pie, but boy does that one look good!